Shaka Zulu (I) (1986– )

Actually, the movie begins and lasts mostly through the reign of George IV, the latter Queen Victoria incidents were classified as the "Zulu Wars". Shaka was dead by then.

Stars:

Edward Fox, Robert Powell, Trevor Howard

Cast

Series cast summary:
Edward Fox	...	Lt. Francis Farewell (1 episode, 1986)
Robert Powell	...	Dr. Henry Fynn (1 episode, 1986)
Trevor Howard	...	Lord Charles Somerset (1 episode, 1986)
Fiona Fullerton	...	Elizabeth Farewell (1 episode, 1986)
Christopher Lee	...	Lord Bathurst (1 episode, 1986)
Henry Cele	...	Shaka (1 episode, 1986)
Dudu Mkhize	...	Nandi (1 episode, 1986)
Roy Dotrice	...	George IV (1 episode, 1986)
Gordon Jackson	...	Prof. Bramston (1 episode, 1986)
Kenneth Griffith	...	Zacharias Abrahams (1 episode, 1986)
Conrad Magwaza	...	Senzagakona (1 episode, 1986)
Patrick Ndlovu	...	Mudli (1 episode, 1986)
Roland Mqwebu	...	Ngomane (1 episode, 1986)
Gugu Nxumalo	...	Mkabayi (1 episode, 1986)
Tu Nokwe	...	Pampata (1 episode, 1986)
Vuyisile Bojana	...	Mgobozi (1 episode, 1986)
Bingo Bentley	...	Bhuza (1 episode, 1986)
Simon Sabela	...	Dingiswayo (1 episode, 1986)
Sam Williams	...	Jama (1 episode, 1986)
Alex Heyns	...	Vegte (1 episode, 1986)
Graham Armitage	...	Wilkins (1 episode, 1986)
Geoff Albert	...	Thomson (1 episode, 1986)
Sonke Buthelezi	...	Nqoboka (1 episode, 1986)
John Carson	...	Lord Kimberley (1 episode, 1986)
Khumbulani Cele	...	Shaka (6-11) (1 episode, 1986)
Dabula Ciliza	...	Ghubela (1 episode, 1986)
Bill Curry	...	Popham (1 episode, 1986)
Terence Dlamini	...	Gazi (1 episode, 1986)
Thembinkosi Dlamini	...	Mevana (1 episode, 1986)
Glen Gabela	...	Shaka (15-19) (1 episode, 1986)
King Beaters Gabelah	...	Musi (1 episode, 1986)
Winston Gama	...	Mzilikazi (1 episode, 1986)
P.W.M. Gardner	...	Aithison (1 episode, 1986)
Keith Grenville	...	Shepstone (1 episode, 1986)
Zipathe Gumede	...	Nkalakata (1 episode, 1986)
Daphney Hlomuka	...	Queen Ntombazi (1 episode, 1986)
Eugene Hlomuka	...	Dilikana (1 episode, 1986)
James Irwin	...	Gen. Chelmsford (1 episode, 1986)
Ian Jali	...	Sigiyana (1 episode, 1986)
Kerry Jordan	...	Rev. Bellow (1 episode, 1986)
Benedict Khambula	...	Witchdoctor (1 episode, 1986)
Charles Kinsman	...	Cane (1 episode, 1986)
Sokesimbone Kubheka	...	Cetshwayo (1 episode, 1986)
Bruno Luthuli	...	Pungashe (1 episode, 1986)
Khulekani Magubane	...	Zwide (1 episode, 1986)
Victor Majavu	...	King Makedama (1 episode, 1986)
Phillip Majola	...	Ngwadi (9 yrs old) (1 episode, 1986)
Humphrey Makhoba	...	Dingane (1 episode, 1986)
Obed Makubane	...	Messenger (1 episode, 1986)
Africa Manqele	...	Ngazana (1 episode, 1986)
Sonto Mazibuko	...	Bibi (1 episode, 1986)
Grissel Mboni	...	Mfunda (1 episode, 1986)
Peter Mgaga	...	Nzobo (1 episode, 1986)
Eric Mcanyana	...	Godongwana (1 episode, 1986)
Dingeni Mhlongo	...	Nomcoba (child) (1 episode, 1986)
Precious Mkhize	...	Njani (1 episode, 1986)
Raymond Mkhize	...	Soshangane (1 episode, 1986)
Amos Mkhonza	...	King Kondlo (1 episode, 1986)
Louis Mtetwa	...	Ufasimba (1 episode, 1986)
Sally Mthembu	...	Majola (1 episode, 1986)
Lucky Mtshali	...	Nondumo (1 episode, 1986)
Sabelo Ndebele	...	Ngwadi (1 episode, 1986)
Daniel Ndlovu	...	Dlaba (1 episode, 1986)
Isabelle Ndlovu	...	Noliwa (1 episode, 1986)
Michael Nene	...	Mbopha (1 episode, 1986)
Shadrack Ngema	...	Joko (1 episode, 1986)
Elliot Ngubane	...	Mphepha (1 episode, 1986)
Peter Nkwanyana	...	Ufasimba (1 episode, 1986)
Alfred D. Nokwe	...	Kuta (1 episode, 1986)
Emily Nompumelelo	...	Mahlana (1 episode, 1986)
Adalbero Ntsele	...	Luthuli (1 episode, 1986)
Samuel Ntsini	...	The Nameless One (1 episode, 1986)
Horatius Ntuli	...	Njanis Father (1 episode, 1986)
Artwell Nyembe	...	Ufasimba Leader (1 episode, 1986)
Aletta Rabotapi	...	Maidservant (1 episode, 1986)
Michael Richard	...	Mordechai Abrahams (1 episode, 1986)
Erica Rogers	...	Queen Victoria (1 episode, 1986)
Hugh Rouse	...	Worthing (1 episode, 1986)
Cynthia Shange	...	Mkabi (1 episode, 1986)
Sibusiso Shange	...	Phakathwayo (1 episode, 1986)
David Sherwood	...	Captain Blair (1 episode, 1986)
Yule Simone	...	Gendeyana (1 episode, 1986)
Leonard Sithole	...	Mbuya (1 episode, 1986)
Washington Xisolo	...	Bhebhe (1 episode, 1986)
Ron Smerczak	...	Ogle (1 episode, 1986)
Sibongile Sokhulu	...	Nomcoba (1 episode, 1986)
Daniel Stewart	...	Tonino (1 episode, 1986)
Oliver Stole	...	Mbenghi (1 episode, 1986)
Sean Taylor	...	The Prince Of Wales (1 episode, 1986)
Reginald Tsokolibane	...	The Lion Man (1 episode, 1986)
Sean Weir	...	Hockley (1 episode, 1986)
Robert Whitehead	...	Simpson (1 episode, 1986)
Nomsa Xaba	...	Sitayi (1 episode, 1986)
Ganza Zama	...	Mtonga (1 episode, 1986)
Vincent Zulu	...	Pakatwayo (1 episode, 1986)
V.E.M. Zulu	...	King Sodubo (1 episode, 1986)
Patrick Zungu	...	Igazi (1 episode, 1986)

Storyline

Framed around Queen Victoria's decision on England's political stance towards the Zulu Nation, this mini-series details King Shaka's rise and fall with mythic detail. Prophecy is mixed with recorded fact regarding Shaka's birth, exile, innovations in warfare, assumption of the throne, building of the Zulu Empire, first contact with Europe and the events that lead to his downfall.

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Plot Keywords:

zulu | zulu wars | rise and fall | 1910s | shield | 

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Taglines:

The Most Savage Warrior of All Time!

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Genres:

Action | Biography | Drama | History | War

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Details

Country:

Australia USA Italy South Africa West Germany

Language:

English Zulu

Release Date:

24 November 1986 (USA)

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Box Office

Budget:

$24,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Harmony Gold, South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Tele München Fernseh Produktionsgesellschaft (TMG)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

300 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This has been the most repeatedly screened mini-series ever shown on syndicated television in the United States. By 1992 it had been seen by over 350 million viewers. The series dislodged John Marshall's "The Hunters" and the later The Gods Must Be Crazy and its follow-ups as the prime shaper of American perceptions of "tribal" history in southern Africa. The series even achieved cult status.

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Quotes

Shaka: [last words, as he is slain by his own bodyguards] ... THE SWALLOWS HAVE WON!
["Swallows" is the Zulus' term for the British... since they, like their bird-namesakes, first came to Africa from across the sea]

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Connections

Referenced in Barbershop (2002)

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Soundtracks

"We Are Growing"
By Patric van Blerk, Julian Laxton, Margaret Singana and David Pollecutt (as Dave Pollecutt)
Sung by Margaret Singana and the Baragwanath Choir

User Reviews

Excellent Story

Based largely on E. A. Ritter's novel, using diaries from Henry Francis Fynn (who is credited as providing medical care to Shaka after an attempt on his life from a member of a rival tribe) & James Stuart, this is a well told & well acted story. Shaka kaSenzangakhona's statesmanship and military prowess are some of the reasons he is rated as one of the greatest Zulu kings. Highly respected by his tribe this film shows the changes he was able to make in the way that the tribes performed in battle, he is known as a ruthless and effective warrior. Unfortunately this film is often hobbled by a cheesy score and some very poorly executed sound recording. The late Henry Cele was perfect for the role. Well worth watching if you can get by the results of budgetary constraints.